Based on addresses on the 27,000 ballots cast so far, former state Sen. Chris Romer likely has the early advantage, according to political expert Craig Hughes of RBI Strategies & Research.

Hughes analyzed the location of where ballots are coming from, determining about 5,400 of the 27,000 ballots returned as of Monday have come out of State House District 6 — roughly the Hilltop area of Denver or around East Sixth Avenue, where older and wealthier voters live.

That demographic favors Romer, according to the Survey USA poll commissioned by The Denver Post and 9News.

Also, an area that should favor Hancock, House Districts 7 and 8, have sent in a total of about 6,400 returns. That is in and around the district that Hancock has represented on council and has more African-American voters, who favored Hancock in poll that showed Romer, Hancock and James Mejia are in a three-way race.

The area that would likely support Mejia, northwest and southwest Denver with larger percentages of Latino voters have had lousy turnouts so far — around 2,500 ballots in each.

Reps. Jon Becker, of Fort Morgan, and Cheri Gerou, of Evergreen, honor their aide, Jill Prenger, today at a House GOP aides and interns appreciation luncheon.

Here’s what happens when you pick up six seats after the November election: You run out of space for your aides and interns appreciation luncheon.

House Republicans today squeezed into a basement committee room, thankful for the new faces, but realizing they might need a bigger venue next year.

Republicans, back in the majority after six years under Democratic control, introduced their staffers, their “front line” as they called them, the mostly unsung heroes who answer all those calls and emails.

Michael Hancock flanked by supporters at a press confernce revealing his first 100 days plan.

With Election Day one week away, Councilman Michael Hancock is taking ambitious strides as today he unveiled a plan for the first 100 days of his term if elected Denver’s next mayor.

In a press release, Hancock notes that while his competitors have chosen to spend the last days before the May 3 election attacking each other and refusing to take stands on critical issues, he has finalized a comprehensive plan to move the city forward even before taking office.

“The next mayor has no time to waste,” said Hancock, before a couple dozen staffers and supporters at Green Spaces, a workspace hub for local entrepreneurs. “We need real leadership and my first 100 days plan will provide the initial steps to turn Denver’s challenges into opportunities.”

The plan calls for strengthening the economy by supporting businesses and creating private sector jobs, improvements to education, eliminating the city’s $100 million budget deficit in the short term and restoring public trust in the Denver Police Department.

DIA has pulled the plug on its effort to “enhance” the planned commuter-rail bridge over Peña Boulevard with the design of Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava.

Last summer, Calatrava and Denver International Airport Manager Kim Day unveiled a conceptual design for the bridge, which will carry the airport train over Peña just east of its junction with E-470.

At that time, Day and Calatrava said the bridge would serve as a “signature,” iconic gateway to the airport.

Today, Day said the airport’s cost for the portion of the bridge it wanted to build would have been about $22 million, yet she said RTD had offered to contribute only $1.4 million to that construction cost.

Officials of the Regional Transportation District, its contractor for the airport train project, and DIA have been assessing and refining costs of the commuter-rail bridge over Peña for more than a year.

Boyles had Peckman on his show this morning, calling him “our candidate” and saying that he is going to “monkey wrench the Denver election.”

“We urge you to vote for this man,” Boyles told his listeners. “Every one of these other guys are all like (Gov. John) Hickenlooper clones … little, mini-John Hickenloopers, mini-(Federico) Penas and mini-(Wellington) Webbs.”

Boyles did not at first name who he was endorsing, asking listeners to call in and guess what candidate he was interviewing in the studio. The winner would get a T-shirt, he said.

“You are an important candidate, and no one knows who you are,” Boyles said. “Except us.”

Kevin had been a transcendental meditation instructor with Peckman decades ago.

“If we can get him into a runoff, can you imagine how cool this would be,” Boyles said. “Kevin are you going to vote for him?”

Kevin wasn’t sure.

Boyles asked voters to pledge their votes to Peckman and help him come up with a slogan: “Jeff Peckman: He’s out of this world”; “The Truth is out there … Peckman”; “What the heck, man? Peck-man!”; “Superman, Spiderman, Peckman!”; “Bikers for PeckmanI”; “Beam Peckman Up!”

Secretary of State Scott Gessler, who sidelined plans to moonlight for his old law firm after widespread criticism about conflicts of interest, says he’s found a gig that won’t pose an ethical dilemma.

“I’m going to be teaching an election law class at DU,” Gessler said today.

It’s a three credit-hour class that will require him to teach two, 75 minute classes a week this fall at the University of Denver, Gessler said.

“I’m doing it as much as anything to stay sharp on election law,” he said, adding, “So much of what I do now is policy-oriented and less about the law.”

Gessler said he is also in discussions with the University of Colorado-Boulder to teach a workshop on redistricting this fall.

“I applied and have been told by Justice Bender that I am being considered,” she said, in an email.

Curry, of Gunnison, said she would be an independent voice on the panel, which will use 2010 census data to redraw the boundaries for 35 Senate and 65 House seats.

Chief Justice Michael Bender has until May 5 to appoint four people to the 11-member Colorado Reapportionment Commission. The governor already has chosen his three appointees, and legislative leaders their four.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.